At Mountain View High School in Loveland, Colorado, Mrs. Bickford, an intern teaching English and yearbook, brings a contagious passion to her role. Her motivation to teach is deeply rooted in her love for her students and her commitment to their growth.
For Mrs. Bickford, the driving force behind her daily motivation to come to school is the students themselves. “The kids are funny and unique,” she says. “Every day is a new beginning to help them discover themselves.” This belief fuels her enthusiasm and determination to become the best teacher she can.
Reflecting on her journey into education, she shares, “After getting accepted into college, I was helping my friends with their work, which began to show my passion for teaching.” This moment inspired her desire to motivate and empower students in their educational journeys.
Mrs. Bickford places great importance on building connections with her students. She recalls a significant success story “Last year, during my other internship, I had a student who wasn’t showing up to senior English class. I made it my mission to help him get back on track. Just being there to motivate him made a huge difference.” This experience reinforced her belief in herself and her teaching philosophy.
During challenging times in the school year, Mrs. Bickford turns to her colleagues for support and motivation. “I talk to them to help clear my mind at the end of the day. Their encouragement is crucial,” she shares. She finds inspiration in watching her peers teach “Their confidence pushes me to be the best teacher I can be.” she adds, “The pay is not what makes you a millionaire in this career,” meaning you need the need to have a genuine love and passion to truly make an impact with teaching.
Mr. Hall, an English and yearbook teacher at Mountain View, also shares his motivations for coming to school each day. For him, the love of his job is central to his motivation. “I have a positive effect on the kids and can hopefully teach them lessons about being a human being, life values, and how to conduct yourself,” .
Mrs. Bickford and Mr. Hall find there inspiration primarily in the personal connections they build with there students aiming for broader life lessons to impart.Mr. Hall says “Teaching is about more than just academics; it’s about shaping character and instilling values,” he says.
When asked to describe a moment that reinforced his passion for education, Mr. Hall recalls, “As a coach for football and track, I’ve had countless moments of true meaningful connections with my students.” This highlights the importance of getting to activities outside of school to create relationships, similar to Mrs. Bickford’s focus on personalized student interactions.
Mr. Hall shares a specific success story that impacted his teaching philosophy: “A number of years ago, I had a student who really struggled in English but was a very nice kid who wanted to learn. I took some extra time to hone his writing skills, and he ended up going to college and now has a successful career and life.” This like Mrs. Bickford’s experience with her students and reinforces the idea that personalized attention can lead to significant growth.
Both educators maintain their motivation through different approaches. Mrs. Bickford leans on emotional support from her colleagues, while Mr. Hall emphasizes the importance of staying organized and maintaining a work-life balance. “I try to stay on top of work to keep myself grounded during difficult times in the school year,” he shares.
Both Mrs. Bickford and Mr. Hall emphasize the role their colleagues play in their motivation to teach. Mrs. Bickford appreciates the encouragement from her peers, while Mr. Hall admires the supportive community at Mountain View. “This school is filled with smart, capable, caring adults,” he says. “Whenever you have people you work with who you like, it’s always easier to work.”
Ultimately, Mrs. Bickford and Mr. Hall embody the essence of teaching passion, dedication, and a desire to inspire. Their stories reflect the diverse motivations that drive educators to make a difference in the lives of their students, proving that whether through personal connection or life lessons, the heart of teaching lies in the relationships built and the lives changed.
